It has been over a decade since David Ayer’s Suicide Squad first hit theaters in 2016, but if you walk into any comic convention today, you are guaranteed to see a sea of dip-dyed pigtails. Most people thought the craze would die down. It didn’t. The suicide squad cosplay harley quinn look has become a permanent fixture in the costume world, right up there with Slave Leia or the classic 1966 Batman. Honestly, it’s kinda fascinating how this specific iteration of Harley Quinn—the "Property of Joker" aesthetic—stuck the landing so hard despite the movie getting mixed reviews from critics.
I’ve seen thousands of these costumes at Dragon Con and SDCC. Most of them look okay from a distance. But once you get up close? You start seeing where the "off-the-rack" spirit dies. There is a massive gap between a bag of polyester from a Halloween superstore and a screen-accurate recreation. If you’re trying to nail this look, you have to understand that Margot Robbie’s costume wasn’t just "punk." It was a highly technical, distressed piece of costume design by Kate Hawley.
The Jacket Geometry Most People Miss
The "Property of Joker" bomber jacket is the centerpiece. It’s also the first place where most cosplayers mess up. Most cheap replicas use a shiny, thin satin that looks like a pajama top. In the film, that jacket has a specific weight to it. It’s a rib-knit hem and cuff situation with a very specific shade of "burnt" gold on the sleeves.
If your gold looks like yellow mustard, it’s wrong. It needs that metallic, almost copper-tinted sheen. Also, the embroidery on the back isn’t just a screen print. On the high-end builds, it’s actually stitched. The phrase "Property of Joker" is arched in a very particular way that follows the shoulder blades. If you buy a jacket where the text is flat across the middle, you’ve basically lost the silhouette.
The Shorts Dilemma and the "Safety Pin" Factor
Let’s talk about the sequined hot pants. These things are a nightmare for comfort. In the movie, they are microscopically short. For a suicide squad cosplay harley quinn to feel authentic, the sequins need to be bi-colored—red and blue—but they shouldn't be too reflective. You want a matte finish if possible.
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The real secret? Distressing. Harley’s clothes in that movie look like she’s lived in them in a dirty cell at Belle Reve. If your shirt is pristine white, you look like you’re wearing a costume, not like you are the character. Use some watered-down grey acrylic paint or even actual dirt (sparingly!) to grime up the edges of the "Daddy’s Lil Monster" tee.
And don't get me started on the fishnets. They shouldn't be perfect. You need to rip them. Not big, cartoonish holes, but small snags near the thighs and ankles. Use a lighter to singe the edges of the rips so they don't unravel further. It adds that "I just fought a bunch of eyeball monsters" vibe that defines the 2016 film.
Why the Makeup is Harder Than It Looks
People think Harley makeup is just "smear some red and blue." Nope. If you do that, you end up looking like a melting popsicle. The trick to a high-tier suicide squad cosplay harley quinn is the "Daddy's Lil Monster" eye shadow blend.
- Use a high-pigment cream shadow first.
- Drag it down with a damp beauty blender, not your fingers.
- Set it with a matching powder to prevent it from actually running into your eyes during a long con day.
The "Rotten" tattoo on the jawline is another sticking point. Don't use a Sharpie. Please. It bleeds into the skin texture and looks green after three hours. Use a fine-tip liquid eyeliner or a professional temporary tattoo decal. The font matters. It’s a sloppy, hand-written script. If it looks too much like Times New Roman, it feels fake.
The Hair: Tinsel vs. Texture
Wigs are the bane of every cosplayer’s existence. Most Harley wigs come out of the bag looking like plastic straw. To make it look like human hair, you need to de-shine it. Dry shampoo is your best friend here. Spray it down until that "doll hair" reflection is gone.
The pigtails shouldn't be perfectly symmetrical either. One side is red, one side is blue. But the dye shouldn't be a solid block of color. It should fade. If you’re using your own hair, hair chalk or semi-permanent tints like Manic Panic work best. If you're using a wig, make sure the "tails" are teased at the base. Harley's hair has volume. It's messy. It's chaotic.
Weapons and Props: Good Night
The baseball bat. You can’t have a suicide squad cosplay harley quinn without the bat. Most cons won't let you bring a real wooden Louisville Slugger. You’ll usually need a foam or plastic version. But the detail on the bat is insane. It has a poem written on it. It’s not just random scribbles.
"Hush little baby don't say a word..."
The script wraps around the barrel in a spiral. Most people just write "Good Night" and call it a day, but the background text is what makes the prop pop in photos. Take the time to use a fine-liner and actually write the lyrics. It’s a zen process, honestly.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Boots
The boots are Adidas Jeremy Scott high-heel sneakers. Well, a modified version of them. They are white and black with high heels. Many cosplayers swap these out for flat combat boots because, let’s be real, walking 10 miles in a convention center in heels is a form of torture.
However, if you want that 100% screen accuracy, the heel is non-negotiable. The laces are also specific—they’re thick and usually tied loosely. If you choose comfort over accuracy, that’s totally fine, but the silhouette of the leg changes significantly without that added height.
The "Puddin" Choker and Jewelry
The jewelry is where the "punk rock royalty" vibe comes in. The "PUDDIN" choker should be gold-toned metal letters on a white leather band. A lot of the cheap ones use plastic letters that slide around. If they slide, glue them down. You want them centered.
Then there are the "YES" and "SIR" earrings and the spiked bracelets. These add texture to the costume. Without the spikes, the outfit feels a bit too "pop star" and not enough "supervillain."
The Impact of the 2016 Design
Critics might have hated the movie, but the costume design by Kate Hawley won the popular vote. Why? Because it felt modern. It moved away from the court jester spandex of the 90s and gave Harley a "streetwear" edge that was easy to replicate but hard to master. It’s a costume that tells a story of a woman who is both a victim and a predator, someone who is broken but incredibly dangerous.
When you put on this cosplay, you're tapping into that specific energy. It’s not just about the clothes; it’s about the posture. Harley stands with a specific tilt—shoulders up, head cocked, bat resting on the neck.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Build
- Texture Check: Avoid shiny satin for the jacket. Look for a matte or semi-gloss finish with a heavy rib-knit collar.
- Weathering: Take your "Daddy’s Lil Monster" shirt and soak it in a light tea bath to take the "stark white" brightness down. Use sandpaper on the edges of the sleeves.
- Wig Care: Use a wide-tooth comb and dry shampoo on synthetic wigs to remove the plastic sheen. Avoid brushing out the pigtails too much or they’ll frizz into a ball.
- Tattoo Prep: Use a makeup setting spray (like Ben Nye Final Seal) over your temporary tattoos. This prevents the "Rotten" tattoo from smudging when you eat or talk.
- Footwear: If you can't do the heels, look for "wedge" sneakers. They give you the height without the pain of a stiletto heel, maintaining the leg line.
- Prop Detail: Don't just paint the bat. Use a wood-grain contact paper or a dark stain if you're using a light wood prop to give it depth before adding the text.
The best Harley Quinn cosplays aren't the ones that cost the most money. They’re the ones where the person clearly spent time making the clothes look like they’ve seen a few fights in Gotham City. Character is in the scuffs. Keep it messy, keep it chaotic, and make sure that "Good Night" bat is ready for action.